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A Woman’s Way
(1912) United States of America
B&W : One reel
Directed by [?] Gaston Méliès and/or Robert Goodman?
Cast: Evelyn Selbie [Ruth, the sheriff’s daughter], Ed Smith (Gunboat Smith) [Dick, the Bandit], [?] Francis Ford?
G. Méliès production; distributed by The General Film Company, Incorporated. / Produced by Gaston Méliès. / Released 27 June 1912. / Standard 35mm spherical 1.33:1 format.
[?] Comedy or Drama?: Western.
Synopsis: [From Méliès promotional materials] The new woman-sheriff of Buckskin County, after making several arrests, is shot by a desperate abdnit. Her daughter, learning of the trouble, volunteers to act as sheriff. Single handed she ventures to the bandit’s hut, and compels him to surrender. Much to her horror he proves to be Dick, her lover. After having him put into prison she ignores his plea for liberty, explaining that she must do her duty and he must take the consequence of his wrong doing. // [?] [From The Moving Picture World]? The newly elected sheriff, having made several arrests, now confronts the hard problem of capturing a desperate bandit who is hiding on Devil’s Rock. After posting a reward for his capture, she approaches his hiding place only to be ambushed by the bandit who severely injures her. The cowboys hurry her home and summon the doctor. Ruth, the sheriff’s daughter, takes up the trail single-handed. She goes to a hut on the top of Devil’s Rock Mountain, quietly opens the door and finds herself face to face with the notorious outlaw. With her pistol drawn, she arrests him. He removes his disguise and Ruth, to her horror, finds that he is Dick, her lover. Her sense of duty prevailing, she takes him to the village lock-up. At night, regretting her act, she steals the key from under her mother’s pillow, and, intent upon releasing her lover, visits the prison. About to accede to the prayers of the prisoner to release him, she realizes the disgrace to her mother which would follow, and bidding her lover farewell, begs him to meet his fate like a man.
Reviews: [The Moving Picture World, 13 July 1913, page ?] A picture opening in burlesque vein and closing with a bit of dandy comedy. It was not till the very last scene that a woman’s way of doing things was fully revealed. A woman was elected sheriff. She gets shot in the arm by a bandit dressed like a woman, and her daughter goes out to get the bandit. She gets him, but finds that he is her lover. After she has him safe in prison, she repents and wants to release him, but because he wants her to unlock the door she decides not to. Its best qualities are the pleasing personalities of the players and the excellent photographs of well-chosen scenes.
Survival status: (unknown)
Current rights holder: Public domain [USA].
Listing updated: 22 May 2024.
References: Thompson-Star p. 231 : ClasIm-226 p. 55 : Website-IMDb.
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